Fabric packages



F. B. ZACKS FABRIC PACKAGES June 20, 1961 Original Filed Dec. 15, 1958United States Patent 50 2,989,173 FABRIC PACKAGES Florence B. Zacks,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to R. G. larry Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, acorporation of hi Original application Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,312.Divided and this application Oct. 17, 1960, Ser. No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-195) This invention relates to special packages andmore particularly to a fabric package adapted to serve as an automotiveaccessory providing ready and convenient actions, the invention in itsillustrative embodiment, in-

cludes a heel guard for the protection of the shoes, especially of womendrivers, and a novel frictional envelope embodying means for thesuspension of the package in a convenient position in the vehicle, forexample, under the instrument panel.

There have been many prior provisions of such heel protectors and therehave been a great number of different materials used in theirconstruction, from metal and hard fiber to leather and fabric; however,no special and convenient means for stowing the protectors when not inuse has been suggested.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved accessory of this character which incorporates certainadvantageous features of construction which enhance the utility of thedevice as a protector of heels of shoes against abrasion and scuffing inthe operation of the brake and accelerator pedals, and which alsopossesses properties which cooperate to provide convenient and effectivemeans for stowing the heel protector when not in use.

The invention in its suggestive embodiment contemplates the provision ofa pocket-like or scoop-like heel protector constructed of differentfabrics in its various parts. The rearward or major portion of themember is made of a durable close-woven fabric preferably in laminatedform, the inner and outer layers being of cloth and an intermediatelamination of foam rubber or equivalent foam plastic material which notonly strengthens the fabric but stiffens it to a slight degree, addingsomewhat increased bulk which has a function which will be presentlydescribed. The side portions of the device are made of softer, moreflexible fabric such as terry cloth in one embodiment, and an elasticmesh material in another embodiment.

The other important element of the package structure comprises asubstantially rectangular fabric envelope closed along three of itsmargins but open along the fourth, the envelope adapted to be suspendedin inverted position with the open mouth downward. This envelope or bagelement is preferably made of an ornamental fabric lined with arelatively thin layer of foam rubber or equivalent foam plastic materialfor the purpose of increasing the friction between the enclosed memberitself and the inner walls of the envelope, when the member is folded orwadded and stuffed into the envelope.

The member is thus not only securely retained in posi- 2,989,173.Patented June 20, 1 961 tion for use when needed, but is very readilyremoved therefrom by a mere downward pull on the member, portions ofwhich may be allowed to protrude through the mouth of the bag orenvelope if desired.

Within the broader scope of the invention, the enclosed fabric membersor articles may be other than the heel protector described, providedonly that they are relatively light in weight, and are of material ofsomewhat frictional surface characteristics and capable of being foldedor wadded to form a mass of considerable bulk as related to the capacityof the envelope portion.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing specification when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by wayof example.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic View in vertical longitudinalsection through the dash portion of an automobile, one foot of thedriver being shown with a fabric heel protector member applied to theheel of the shoe, and an envelope member constituting part of the novelpackage suspended from a-portion of the instru ment panel of the car;

FIGURE 2 is a'perspective view showing one form of heel protectorelement, being an'example of the fabric accessory forming a part of theinventive concept;

FIGURE 3 is a view in rear elevation of a fragmentary portion of thedash of the automobile and showing the novel fabric package suspendedtherefrom; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 is applied tothe sloping front floorboard of an automobile, the numeral 11 to thedash, and the numeral 12 to the instrument panel. The accelerator pedalis shown at 15 with the connecting mechanism 16 extending through thefloor panel 10. The foot of a woman driver is encased in a low heelwalking shoe indicated at 20 and the heel portion of the shoe is encasedin a heel protector of novel construction which is the subject of theabove mentioned co-pending application, and is indicated in its entiretyby the numeral 25. This form of heel protector is also denoted by thesame reference numeral in FIGURE 2.

In this particular protector the rear panel portion indicated at 27 isof laminated construction having an outer layer of fabric 28 whichshould be of durable and preferably ornamented construction andmanufacture, and an inner fabric layer 29 which may be of plainmaterial. Between these layers is cemented a thin player of foam rubberor foam plastic material 30. A side and bottom panel of the protector 25is shown at 32 and comprises an area of elastic webbing which, asdisclosed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, underlies the heel of the shoeand extends up the sides of the heel portion of the upper. The portion32 is sewn to the portion 27 along the seam 33.

The outer marginal portions of both of the areas 27 and 32 are gatheredand a marginal tape 34 is secured along the edges of the portion 32while a similar tape 35 is stitched along the marginal portions of thearea 27, the tape 35 being preferably extended as at 36 and 37' toprovide securing means for the device, the tapes 36 and 37 being tiedtogether as at 39 in FIGURE 1. The tapes are preferably made of elasticmaterial to aid in snapping the protectors onto the heels and retainingthem snugly in place.

For suspending the heel protector element 25 in readily accessibleposition when not in use, a novel packaging expedient is providedembracing the heel protector together with a bag or envelope indicatedgenerally at 40. The bag is formed of two panels of material 41 whichare stitched and taped along three margins as at 42, and the lowersideof the device 40 is open, the margins of the end is detachablysecured to the envelope as by means of a snap fastener 46. This loop maybe supported from a hook 48 positioned below the instrument panel, orthe elastic loop may be snapped around the steering wheel, the elasticnature of the loop enabling it to expand to fit steering wheels ofdiiferent thicknesses. The envelope 40 is also laminated and consists ofthe outer fabric layer 50 and the inner sponge rubber or sponge plasticmaterial 51, both laminations being embraced by the marginal tapes 43and sewed as at 52, this being clearly shown in FIGURE 4 of thedrawings.

When removed from the shoe, the protector 25 is folded and waddedtogether as clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings and stuffedinto the open mouth of the envelope 40. The bulk of the protector andthe friction provided by the foam lining 51 of the envelope effectivelyprevent the protectors from falling from the envelope, but theprotruding portions of the protector may be readily grasped for removalwhen the protector is needed.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel accessorypackage featured by the use of an inverted open mouthed envelope havinga frictional inner surface together with the rather bulky wadded fabricaccessory member retained therein against the force of gravity, and theentire package suspended within convenient grasp of the driver of avehicle.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made inthe embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing fromthe scope of the invention as determined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An accessory package for ready accessibility by motorists or the likecomprising, in combination, a flexible lightweight fabric accessorymember, and an envelope closed at its top and side edges but having apermanently open downwardly directed bottom edge, for supporting saidaccessory member, as for example, beneath the instrument panel of anautomobile; the envelope having an inner surface of frictional material,the accessory member being wadded together and compressed, and containedwithin the inverted envelope, the bulk of the wadded accessory memberbeing only slightly less than the capacity of the envelope, whereby theaccessory member is retained within the envelope by means of thefrictional contact between said member and the inner surface of theenvelope.

2. The accessory package as set forth in claim 1 in which the envelopeis of multi-ply material, the outer exposed lamination being of fabricand the inner lamination being a layer of foam rubber.

3. The accessory package as set forth in claim 1 in which at least aportion of the accessory member is of foam rubber, this adding to theresilient bulk of the member for better retention within the envelope.

4. For use in suspending a fabric accessory, as for example, beneath theinstrument panel of an automobile, an envelope closed at its top andside edges but having a permanently open downwardly directed bottomedge, and hanger means secured to the closed top edge of said envelopefor suspending it in such invented position, the envelope being offabric and having an inner lining of foam rubber, the frictional natureof the foam rubber lining serving to retain light fabric accessorieswithin the inverted envelope against the force of gravity.

5. For use in suspending a fabric accessory, as for example, beneath theinstrument panel of an automobile, an envelope closed at its top andside edges but having a permanently open downwardly directed bottomedge, and hanger means secured to the closed top edge of said envelopefor suspending it in such inverted position, the envelope being offabric and having an inner surface of frictional material whereby itserves to retain light fabric accessories within the inverted envelopeagainst the force of gravity.

6. The suspension means set forth in claim 5 in which said hanger meanscomprises an elastic loop fixedly secured at one end to the envelope anddetachably secured at the opposite end thereto.

No references cited.

